Crusaders celebrate eighth Super title

The Crusaders won a record-extending eighth Super Rugby title on Saturday, beating the Lions 25-17 in another supremely efficient performance by the southern hemisphere's most successful club team.

The Crusaders were helped significantly by a first-half red card to Lions flanker Kwagga Smith for a mid-air tackle on Crusaders fullback David Havili, who was flipped over by the collision and landed dangerously on his neck and shoulder area.

South African referee Jaco Pyper had no option under World Rugby's new safety guidelines but to issue a red to Smith.

But even before the 39th-minute sending off, the Crusaders led 12-3 through early tries by wing Seta Tamanivalu and centre Jack Goodhue.

No. 8 Kieran Read scored their third three minutes into the second half and the Crusaders were smart enough, and had enough energy left in the tank, to hold out against a late surge by the Lions.

Odds by

Reds

18

vs

Brumbies

10

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 3

Suncorp Stadium - Friday March 2nd, 9:00 am

Odds by

Sunwolves

17

vs

Rebels

37

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 3

Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium - Saturday March 3rd, 4:15 am

Odds by

Crusaders

45

vs

Stormers

28

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 3

AMI Stadium - Saturday March 3rd, 6:35 am

Odds by

Sharks

24

vs

Waratahs

24

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 3

Kings Park Stadium - Saturday March 3rd, 1:05 pm

Odds by

Bulls

35

vs

Lions

49

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 3

Loftus Versfeld - Saturday March 3rd, 3:15 pm

Odds by

Jaguares

9

vs

Hurricanes

34

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 3

Estadio Jose Amalfitani - Saturday March 3rd, 9:40 pm

Odds by

Highlanders

33

vs

Stormers

15

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 4

Forsyth Barr Stadium - Friday March 9th, 6:35 am

Odds by

Rebels

33

vs

Brumbies

10

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 4

AAMI Park - Friday March 9th, 8:45 am

Odds by

Hurricanes

29

vs

Crusaders

19

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 4

Westpac Stadium - Saturday March 10th, 6:35 am

Odds by

Reds

20

vs

Bulls

14

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 4

Suncorp Stadium - Saturday March 10th, 8:45 am

Odds by

Sharks

50

vs

Sunwolves

22

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 4

Kings Park Stadium - Saturday March 10th, 1:05 pm

Odds by

Lions

35

vs

Blues

38

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 4

Emirates Airlines Park - Saturday March 10th, 3:15 pm

Odds by

Jaguares

38

vs

Waratahs

28

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 4

Estadio Jose Amalfitani - Saturday March 10th, 9:40 pm

Odds by

Chiefs

41

vs

Bulls

28

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 5

FMG Stadium Waikato - Friday March 16th, 6:35 am

Odds by

Highlanders

25

vs

Crusaders

17

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 5

Forsyth Barr Stadium - Saturday March 17th, 6:35 am

Odds by

Brumbies

24

vs

Sharks

17

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 5

GIO Stadium - Saturday March 17th, 8:45 am

Odds by

Stormers

37

vs

Blues

20

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 5

DHL Newlands - Saturday March 17th, 1:05 pm

Odds by

Lions

40

vs

Sunwolves

38

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 5

Emirates Airlines Park - Saturday March 17th, 3:15 pm

Odds by

Jaguares

7

vs

Reds

18

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 5

Estadio Jose Amalfitani - Saturday March 17th, 9:40 pm

Odds by

Waratahs

51

vs

Rebels

27

Match Completed

RUGBY 2018: Round 5

Allianz Stadium - Sunday March 18th, 5:05 am

Odds by

Crusaders

vs

Bulls

RUGBY 2018: Round 6

AMI Stadium - Friday March 23rd, 6:35 am

Odds by

Rebels

vs

Sharks

RUGBY 2018: Round 6

AAMI Park - Friday March 23rd, 8:45 am

Odds by

Sunwolves

vs

Chiefs

RUGBY 2018: Round 6

Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium - Saturday March 24th, 4:15 am

Odds by

Hurricanes

vs

Highlanders

RUGBY 2018: Round 6

Westpac Stadium - Saturday March 24th, 6:35 am

Odds by

Stormers

vs

Reds

RUGBY 2018: Round 6

DHL Newlands - Saturday March 24th, 3:15 pm

Odds by

Jaguares

vs

Lions

RUGBY 2018: Round 6

Estadio Jose Amalfitani - Saturday March 24th, 9:40 pm

Odds by

Chiefs

vs

Highlanders

RUGBY 2018: Round 7

FMG Stadium Waikato - Friday March 30th, 6:35 am

Odds by

Rebels

vs

Hurricanes

RUGBY 2018: Round 7

AAMI Park - Friday March 30th, 8:45 am

Odds by

Blues

vs

Sharks

RUGBY 2018: Round 7

Eden Park - Saturday March 31st, 6:35 am

Odds by

Brumbies

vs

Waratahs

RUGBY 2018: Round 7

GIO Stadium - Saturday March 31st, 8:45 am

Odds by

Bulls

vs

Stormers

RUGBY 2018: Round 7

Loftus Versfeld - Saturday March 31st, 3:15 pm

Odds by

Lions

vs

Crusaders

RUGBY 2018: Round 7

Emirates Airlines Park - Sunday April 1st, 12:30 pm

Odds by

Hurricanes

vs

Sharks

RUGBY 2018: Round 8

McLean Park - Friday April 6th, 7:35 am

Odds by

Sunwolves

vs

Waratahs

RUGBY 2018: Round 8

Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium - Saturday April 7th, 5:15 am

Odds by

Chiefs

vs

Blues

RUGBY 2018: Round 8

FMG Stadium Waikato - Saturday April 7th, 7:35 am

Odds by

Brumbies

vs

Reds

RUGBY 2018: Round 8

GIO Stadium - Saturday April 7th, 9:45 am

Odds by

Lions

vs

Stormers

RUGBY 2018: Round 8

Emirates Airlines Park - Saturday April 7th, 3:15 pm

Odds by

Jaguares

vs

Crusaders

RUGBY 2018: Round 8

Estadio Jose Amalfitani - Saturday April 7th, 9:40 pm

Odds by

Hurricanes

vs

Chiefs

RUGBY 2018: Round 9

Westpac Stadium - Friday April 13th, 7:35 am

Odds by

Sunwolves

vs

Blues

RUGBY 2018: Round 9

Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium - Saturday April 14th, 3:05 am

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The Crusaders not only conquered the playoff top seeds, who were on a 14-game winning streak, but also Johannesburg's energy-sapping high altitude.

Although it was the Crusaders' 12th appearance in a final, it was their first title for nearly a decade having seen some of their New Zealand rivals win Super Rugby ahead of them in recent seasons.

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"No one had us picked from the word go," said Crusaders captain Sam Whitelock. "It was awesome. We just believed in ourselves, started (the season) really well, the energy was amazing, and it's just been an amazing year."

The Crusaders had a 25-3 advantage with just over 15 minutes to go at Ellis Park, but that was cut to eight points after a brave comeback attempt by the Lions with late tries from front-rowers Malcolm Marx and Corne Fourie.

But, when it really mattered in the last five minutes, the Crusaders' vaunted defence held under pressure.

"It's a team thing. Defence is about caring," said Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, who became the first man to win Super Rugby titles as a player and coach. "It's one area where we've been exceptional this year. You win championships in defence and we did that tonight."

Robertson, who won four titles with the Crusaders as a player, celebrated triumph in his debut season as the team's coach with some breakdancing in the middle of a huddle of his players on the field.

The Lions won praise for their resistance after having a man sent off in a final, but it was another failed attempt to win a first Super Rugby title for the Johannesburg-based team, which lost to the Hurricanes in last year's final in New Zealand.

"It's not the way we wanted to send off our coach," Lions captain Jaco Kriel said, referring to Johan Ackermann's last game as coach of the Lions before leaving to take over at English club Gloucester.

"Well done to the Crusaders. They are a championship side," Kriel said.